Automatic ejector mechanism for stock cutting machines



C. THUMlM Dec. 15, 1964 AUTOMATIC EJECTOR MECHANISM FOR STOCK CUTTINGMACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 7, 1956 INVENTOR. CflfllTHUM/M Dec. 15, 1964 c. THUMIM 3,161,098

AUTOMATIC EJECTOR MECHANISM FOR STOCK CUTTING MACHINES Original FiledNov. '7, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. THUMIM Dec. 15, 1964 AUTOMATIC EJECTORMECHANISM FOR STOCK CUTTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original FiledNov. 7, 1956 INVENTOR. c/ML 7/1V/V/M onv 2.?

United States Patent C 3,161,098 AUTOMATIL EJECTQR MEQHANISM FUR STGEKCUTTENG MACHINES Carl Thurnim, Lombard, Iii, assignor to h iiehia'GossDexter, Inc, (Ihicago, ilL, a corporation of Delaware @r-iginalapplication Nov. '7, 1956, Ser. No. 624?,928, now Patent No. 3,933,067,dated May 8, I962. Divided and this application Feb. 13, I962, Ser. No.173,675

6 Claims. (Cl. 83 90) This invention relates generally to ejectormechanisms,

machine to execute transverse cuts on the paper stack in a predeterminedmanner. Reference is made to Patent No. 2,570,873 as typical of suchtype of machine. A clamp for holding the paper stack intact is arrangedadjacent the knife blade, to act upon the stack as it is beingtransversely out. A back gauge is provided at the rear end of the stack,movable towards the front, along the table on which the stack issupported. The back gauge is moved in a predetermined manner to push thestack forward between cutting operations of the knife. A startstopprogram device is generally related with the back gauge to automaticallystart its movement and stop it at predetermined positions'during thecutting cycles of the knife assembly. Such back gauge system in acutting machine is illustrated and described in Patent No. 2,487,- 031entitled Automatic Back Gauge Spacer and assigned to the same assigneeas this case.

In conjunction with a cutting machine of such general characteristics,the present invention provides an automatic ejector mechanism arrangedat the knife end. Such ejector is automatically actuated after the lasttransverse cut is made upon the stack. The function of the ejector is tomove the last portion of the cut stack out from the machine through thefeed-out end.

In accordance with this invention a plurality of fingertype members arearrayed to operate in unison. The

fingers are swept through a slotted work delivery table,

from beneath, upon completion of the cutting cycles. Novel apparatus isprovided for automatic actuation of the'ejector assembly to displace theend of the stack, out of the machine.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide novelejector mechanisms.

Another object of the present invention is to provide more automaticejector mechanisms in the form of a finger-like array.

A further object of the present invention is to put on cut stack ejectormechanism operative automatically at the end of the stack cuttingcycles.

These and further objects of this invention will become more apparent inthe following description or" an exemplary embodiment. Thereof,illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a cutting machine incorporatingthe exemplary ejection mechanism as seen from the operator position withthe central portion thereof broken away.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the cutting manrore fullydescribed.

s ats chine of FIGURE 1 at the front or feed-out position.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the exemplary machine, with portionsthereof removed for the purposes of clarity of illustration, and showingthe exemplary ejector mechanism.

FIGURE 4 is'en enlarged illustration of the ejector mechanism.

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the ejector of FIGURE 4 as seen from theright hand thereof.

FIGURES 1 and 2 show the side and front and elevations, respectively, ofthe cutting machine incorporating the invention cut stack ejector.

The front end, as is normally termed in such commercial machines, willbe herein also termed the feedout position, corresponding to theposition on the right end of the machine seen in FIGURE 1, and as seenin elevation in FIGURE 2. The front portion of the stack of sheets,after being cut off, is fed out from the feedout end.

The main column 1% of the machine supports the guide supports for theknife cutting assembly, as will be detailed hereinafter, as well as theframe section of the balance of the machine including the work table.The left side column N31 is an additional support for the machine andincludes the circuit and relay panel for the electrical control systemherein. Main column serves also as an oil reservoir for the hydraulicserve components of the machine. FIGURES 1 and 2) is arranged at a smallangle to the horizontal plane, the left side of the table as viewed fromfeed-out end of FIGURE 2 being raised above the right end.

A side gauge 102 is at the right side of the work table (FIGURE 2); thecorresponding longitudinal side of the stacks of sheets rests againstside gauge 102. Side gauge 102 is perpendicular to the tilted worktable. A conveyor system 103 starts at tilted roller 164 adjacent thecutting position under knife assembly 105 and extends to horizontalroller I06. An idler roller 167 completes the circuit of the conveyorsheet 108.

A hood lift is mounted above conveyor I03, covering up the externalaccess to knife assembly 105 for safety purposes. Hood Iii) is hinged at111, providing a suitable protecting means with ready accessibility tothe cutting position at the feed-out end of the machine. Hood 11% may beof sheet metal with transparent panes of glass or plexiglass. A safetyswitch (not shown) is actuated by hood 116 when opened up, shutting offthe electrical control circuits of the machine, stopping the action ofthe knife assembly 165 and of the other sections as well. Thus, thesafety hood prevents accidents to fingers of the operator since theknife and the machine general outline and correlation of the basiccomponents of cutting mechanism N5 as seen in these figures is asfollows: The knife bar is supported in suitable guides and carries theknife blade 116 at its lower cut-out section. Knife assembly 115, 116 isarranged at the angle .with horizontal to coact normally with the workbed and stack carried at the same angle, for the purposes to be Knifeblade 116 is demouutable from knife bar I15 for replacement orsharpening.

A front or knife clamp 117 is arranged contiguous to Patented Dec. I5,1964.

The Work table (not seen in- B and behind knife bar 115. Suitablecontrol means are operated on clamp 117 to press it down on the frontsector of a stack of sheets in the machine just prior to cutting byknife blade 116. The stack of sheets is held firmly adjacent thetransverse cutting position wherein the reciprocable knife blade 116effects the transverse cut, as is understood by those skilled in theart. A suitable torsion bar 118 and hydraulic cylinder 119 areassociated with the clamp 117 for its motivation.

The back gauge 128 transverses the machine along its full operatinglength in the longitudinal direction. It is secured to the work table(see FIGURE 3). Back gauge 120 incorporates a vertical frame 121 thatpushes the end of the stack of sheets on the work table-forward tocutting blade 116. The back gauge 12% of the exemplary machineincorporates a series of fingers 122 of the back gauge clamp. Thefingers 122 of the back gauge clamp are seen in progression in FIGURE 1in view of the tilt of the back gauge with the horizontal. Theirfunction is to press against the top layer of the back end of the stackof sheets in the cutting machine and firmly grip the whole back end ofthe stack or stacks throughout the cycles of the cutting program. Inother words, the positive gripping of the stack or stacks on the worktable by the fingers 122 of the back gauge clamp and the resting of theside of the .stack against tilted side gauge 192 eliminates walking ofthe sheets on the stack and its angular dislocation due to the frontclamp action (117).

It is thus practical to arrange the loading of the stacks from the sideof the machine 125 (FIGURE 1). This is more efiicient in production asthe stacks or piles to be cut into book pages or wrappers, etc. arelong, such as 40" to 60". These stacks are slid along the horizontalside work table 126 and across to the work bed of the machine(150-FIGURE 3) all from the machine side 125. The opera-tor and thecontrols for the machine are arranged at side 125 for the progress ofthe cutting program on the sheets. Control panel 127 contains the start128 and stop 129 control switches for operating the pump of thehydraulic system.

Electrical panel 139 contains the switches for controlling the operationof the back gauge with control button 131 for the forward movement,control button 132 for the reverse movement, and control button 133 forstop. These controls in panel 139 are manual over-rides by the operatorfor the action of the back gauge independent of the automaticprogramming of the machine operation. Similarly, there are twoover-riding controls for the action of knife assembly 105; electricalcontrol 134 arranged at the left side of the machine and control 135 atthe right side of the operating position. Either one of these switches134, 135 over-rides the automatic programming action of the knifeassembly 105 whereby the operator can actuate knife blade 116 intocutting whenever desired. Similarly, a pedal for operating the hydraulicaction of the back gauge clamp is arranged at 136, and pedal foroperator actuation of the front clamp 117 and 137.

A safety hood 149 is provided over the work bed, the work thereon, andthe back gauge 120. Hood 140 has a handle 141 to lift it out of the waywhen loading, unloading or otherwise by the operator. A safety switch(not shown) is actuated upon opening of hood 14%, whereby all elementsof the cutting machine are stopped from forward movement or actuation.This safety feature is important to the operator. A large panel of glassor plexiglass may be arranged in hood 140 which is otherwise of sheetmetal.

CUTTING MACHINE-MAIN OPERATING UNITS FIGURE 3 is a perspectiveillustration of the exemplary embodiment of the cutting machine showingthe essential operating units and their correlation. For the purposes ofclarity of illustration in FIGURE 3, the protective hoods, the conveyorsystem 103, the side table 21 126, the main supports and housing of themachine, and the start-stop programrnlng control unit have all beenomitted from this figure. Also, a stack or stacks of sheets is not shownon the work table to simplify the illustration but will readily beunderstood by those skilled in the art.

(a) Tilted work table.The work table 150 is seen to extend from the rearof the machine (at the rightFIG- URE 3) longitudinally through themachine to the front of feed-out end adjacent knife assembly 105. Therear of work table 150 is supported on a hollow frame member 151, inturn supported on main upright 101. The front end (left-FIGURE 3) ofwork table 150 is supported directly on the inclined surface 152 of maincolumn 189. Work table 150 is comprised of a series of spaced parallelflat bars 155. The spacing between the bars 155 is substantially equalto the width of the bars in the transverse direction. In a practicalembodiment, the transverse width of table bars 155 may be of the orderof /2, A", or 1''; and the spaces between these bars of the samedimension as the selected bar widths. It will now be apparent that thework table area that the stack rides on has the order of 50% lessfrictional contact with the work bed as compared to a solid work bed ofthe prior art. Thus, the paper stack is pushed by the back gauge 120along work table 150 with a substantially less frictional drag.

Also it is important to note that cutting and trimmings of paper andother debris, due to the operation of the machine on paper stacks,readily fall through the open spaces between the parallel bars 155comprising the work table. The work table 150 is accordingly readilymaintained clean, and has a reduced friction for the stack movementsthereon. Such reduced friction to the movement-s of the paper stack onthe work table further enhances the maintaining of the stack in itsvertical alignment and minimizes any tendency of the stack to Walk orotherwise distort when being operated upon. Another important purpose ofthe spaced bar work table 150 construction is to provide room for thelower movable members of the back gauge clamp, and the fingered ejectorapparatus hereof.

The work table 150 and the inclined surface 152 of column upon which itis mounted are inclined at a fixed small angle to the horizontal planeof the machine, which angle we shall for purposes of reference refer toas 6. In practice, the angle 0 actually used may range from 1 to 20",but this is optional. Even a small angle of tilt to horizontal for 0 hasbeen found to attain satisfactory results herein. In one practicalembodiment 6 equalled 3.

The back gauge 120 and its associated back gauge clamp 122, 123 aremovably mounted on work table 150 and parallel thereto at the sameinclined angle to the horizontal. Similarly, the knife apparatusincluding front clamp 117 and the knife assembly 115, 116 are mounted atthe same angle 0 to the horizontal plane, rendering the cutting bladeassembly parallel to the surface of cutting table 150. The bottomcutting edge of blade 116 is further inclined to the horizontal toeffect a guillotine type of cut. (b) Back gauge.The back gauge assemblymoves longitudinally of the machine and along the work table 150. Thefunction, details and operation of the back gauge 120 and the associatedback clamp 122, 123 is set forth in said parent case at columns 9-11 inthe heading Back Gauge and Back Gau e Clamp in connection with thedescription of FIGURES 18, 19 and 20 thereof. Back gauge 120 comprisesvertical pusher frame 121 that abuts the rear end of the stacked sheets.The frame portion 121 is segmented and projects through the openings inwork table between horizontal bars 155. A bracket 156 extends from thebottom of the back gauge, beneath work table 150, and is securedthereto.

The back gauge 120 is actuated along the work bed .with the tilted worktable.

150 in the forward and rearward direction through hydraulic cylinder 157by piston rod 158 extending from cylinder 157 and a pantograph linkage161). The pantograph 160 linkage between hydraulic cylinder 157 and backgauge 120 (at bracket 156) permits a long swing of the piston rod 158 tosubtend the working excursion of back gauge 129 on work table 150. In apractical embodiment, such swing was 60". It is to be noted that thehydraulic cylinder 157 is held horizontal and longitudinal of themachine, parallel to the direction of movement of back gauge 120. It isimportant to maintain piston rod 158 in a horizontal plane to preventdistortion and malfunctioning of its hydraulic drive for the back gauge.This is accomplished by pantograph 160 in a manner set forth in detailin said parent case in connection with the description of FIGURES 21 and22 thereof, under the heading Back Gauge Drive Mechamsm.

(c) Back gauge clamp.-The back gauge clamp comprises movable fingers122, 122 projecting between the open spaces of the vertical bars of thepusher section 121 of back gauge 120. The fingers 122, 122 are operable,in the vertical direction, within vertical frame 121, by means detailedin said parent case in connection with the description of FIGURES 18, 19and 20 thereof, under the heading Back Gauge and Back Gauge Clamp. Aseries of stationary fingers 123, 123 are located beneath the movablefingers 122, 122. The top surface of stationary fingers 123, 123 is asmall distance above the plane of work table 150. The stationary fingers123, 123 of the back gauge clamp are arranged in the interstices of bars155, 155 of table 150 and are secured to a projecting portion of theback clamp structure 120.

When the movable fingers 122, 122 of the back gauge clamp are activateddownwardly, they grip the tail end of the stack or stacks 'of sheetsagainst the pusher surface 121 of the back gauge, pressing the stacksbetween the coacting pairs of fingers 122, 123. The intensity of forceexerted by this clamp 122, 123 of the back gauge on the stack is made atleast equal to, and preferably greater than, the intensity of forceexerted by the front clamp 117 atthe forward end of the stack. In otherwords, the clamp 117 used for cutting purposes at the front stack endmust not be able to loosen the stack of sheets that is held by backgauge clamp 122, 123 under any conditions of operation. The back gaugeclamp 122, 123 is arranged to exert apowerful grip and travels with theback gauge 120 forming, in effect, a travelling table for the paperstack as it is moved forward to the successive transverse cuttingpositions.

Thus, the stack or parallel stacks of sheets will not become distorted,and the printing on successive sheets will remain in accurate verticalalignment in all cutting operations by the knife 115, 116. As alreadystated, such clamping of the rear end of the stack permits themotivation of theback gauge, and the speed of the operating cyclebetween cuts, to be faster than heretofore possible with practicalcommercial cutting machines. With the exemplary machine, there is nodanger of distorting or walking of the pile of sheets; particularly inView of the combination of the back gauge clamp 122, 123 Suchcombination virtually secures the stack in proper operating alignmentregardless of possible distortions due to speed of travel, decelerationof the stack or operation of the knife assembly 105 and its associatedclamp 117. It also becomes unnecessary for the operator to remain at thefeedout position of the work table at the cutting position forreadjusting the stack that may otherwise have become distorted.

The cycling and motivation of the back gauge, through I hydrauliccylinder 157, is controlled in the usual manner for automatic cuttingmachines such as on a start-stop programming device (as described inPatents Nos.

- 2,487,031 and 2,053,499), or otherwise.

The side gauge 102 extends perpendicular from the plane of work table150 and the paper stacks rest against side gauge 102 due to the tiltingof the table 150.

(d) Knife assembly.-The cutting knife assembly 105 is mounted adjacentthe front or feed-on end of the machine. The vertical main supports 15%181 for the cutting assembly 165 are secured to the inclined surface 152of the main column 105. Guide supports 182, 183 for containing themovement of knife assembly 115, and clamp 117 are secured to andotherwise bolted to the vertical supports 180, 181. The top beam 184 forthe assembly 1115 is supported across the supports 180, 183 as moreclearly shown in FIGURE 4. The knife bar 115 is reciprocably mounted inthe guide supports 182, 183 and actuated by a crank mechanism extendingfrom the gear mechanism box 185. Details of the knife drive mechanismwithin gear box 185 are shown and described in said parent case inconnection with FIGURES 6 through 13 thereof.

A draw bar 186 extends from a crank within gear box 185 and is linked toear 187 extending from knife bar 115 through link 1188 pivoted at 189.The opposite end of knife bar 115 is pivotally supported from the topcross beam 184, through link 1% connecting rear ear 191 of knife bar 115to the pivoted end 192 of beam 184. Pivot 192 is preferably a bearingsurface, to minimize friction; as is the pivot 193 between link 1% andthe knife bar. A heavy spring 195 is mounted within a cavity of crossbeam 184 and arranged in a further linkage tothe knife bar 115,including elements 196, 197, 198 and 199 shown in more detail in FIGURES4 and 5 hereinafter.

The purpose of the heavy spring 195 and its associated linkages withknife bar 115 is to normally bias or other- Wise maintain knife bar 115in its upward, non-operative position. In other words, spring 195 isarranged to keep the knife blade 116 in knife bar 115 normally at alltimes when non-operating in the upward position so as not to causeinjury to the operator or stack should any component of the knifemechanism 105 or other part of the drive become broken or inoperative.Further advantages and details of this construction are set forthhereinafter.

Actuation of the knife draw bar 186 by the crank mechanism in gear box185 is on a cyclic basis under the control of the start-stop programmingsystem. The bydraulic cylinder 119' for actuating front clamp 117 isseen in dotted lines in FIGURE 3. Cylinder 119 is supported incross-beam 184. The torque bar 118 is connected to front clamp 117 forthe purpose of keeping the clamp in the position parallel with the worktable under all clamping operations despite the thickness of height ofthe stack of sheets. Further details of the operation of torque bar 118and its associated mechanism are described in connection with FIGURES14' through 17 of said parent case under the heading Front (Knife) ClampSystem.

Ejector Mechanism machine is located an ejector mechanism whereby thelast remaining portion of the stack is mechanically moved forward fromthe work table 150 into the conveyor 1138 (FIGURES 1 and 2). Shown indotted lines in FIG- URE 3 is a shaft 215 rotatably supported in theframe of the machine. A pulley 216 is secured to shaft 215. A cable 217is arranged to rotate shaft 215 counterclockwise when pulled downwardlyby actuating bar 218. Actuating bar 213 is pivoted at 219 and iscontrolled to operate downwardly when the back gauge is moved'to apredetermined position at the end of the program of cutting.

Rod 218 may be-actuated electrically through a solenoid or mechanicallyby a suitable element under the control of the position of the backgauge after the last out on the stack. The downward movement of cable217 when etfectuated rotates shaft 215 and the series of spaced fingers220 secured to rod 215. The ejector fingers 220 are positioned to bemoved between the spaces of bars of table 150 and engage the end portionof other actuation means are equally feasible.

the cut paper stack. It moves such stack portion outward of the machineinto the conveyor 108.

The position of the back gauge for actuation of lever 218 and theejecting mechanism herein is preferably when the back gauge is alreadyin its return rearward movement and has already moved back toward itsstarting position by a predetermined amount. Actuation of lever 218 andejecting fingers 220 will thus operate upon the last portion of the cutstack without interference from the back gauge 120 and back gauge clamp122, 123. The ejector is operated after the last cutting stroke of theknife assembly 105 and when the clamp 117 and knife 115, 116 are intheir upward position. The remaining stack portion is moved forward outof the machine. The back gauge, when at a predetermined further positionin its return movement, de-energizes the ejector actuating lever 218.The spring biased cable 217 thereupon returns to the initial position,as indicated in FIGURE 3.

The machine of FIGURE 3 is further strengthened by cross-bars 221, 222,at 223 at the back side portion forming triangular strut 224. Furthercross bars 225, and 226 strengthen the vertical structure between themain vertical supports 10%), 161. Additional strengthening struts andcross bars, supporting members and the like are, of course, optional.The location of the mechanical, electrical and hydraulic controlelements are a matter of choice, as are the locations of the controllevers, pedals and switches.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 4 and 5, which are enlarged detailviews of the exemplary ejector mechanism. When the back gauge 120 hasmoved back, by a predetermined distance, after the last cut, a solenoid475 is energized. Energization of solenoid 475 attracts into it armaturemember 476, secured to ejector lever 218 by pin 477. The ejector lever218 is pivoted to a stationary bracket 478 by pin 479. The opposite end480 of lever 218 secures the end of cable 217. The downward attractionof armature 476 (FIGURE 5) causes cable 217 to be drawn downwardly torotate ejector shaft 215 at pulley 216. The spring fingers 220, 220 aresecured to the rod 215 and, are rotated clockwise from their normaloutof-the-way position. It will now be apparent that the clockwiserotation of fingers 224 move them between the spaces of table bars 155.

The fingers 220 thereupon abut the portion of the stack remainingadjacent the feed-out position, where the ejector is situated. Thefingers 220, 220 get behind the stack portion that was left under themain clamp, and push it forward into the conveyor 103 (FIGS. 1, 2). Itis to be understood that the main clamp 117 had already been retractedupwardly and out-of-the-way, prior to such ejection action. Furthermore,the back clamp 120 had already been returned, on its way toward itsstart, (to right, FIG. 3), to permit the spring fingers 220 to moveunder the table through bars 155 for the ejection action. The timingthereof is controlled by the energization of the solenoid 475.

After suflicient interval to permit the full ejection by the clockwiserotation of the ejection fingers 220, and as the back gauge has movedfurther towards its rear (start) position, solenoid 475 istie-energized. The spring fingers 220 thereupon are returned to theirlower position, shown in solid lines in FIGURE 5 by the biasing actionof the springs 485, 485 secured beneath the table 150. Cable 217 ismoved to its normal unactivated down ward position, and lever 218 isreturned to its unactuated position for the next ejection cycle.

It is to be understood that in place of the solenoid 475 One such formis a mechanical linkage arrangement from a movable machine member (suchas the back gauge) to the cable 217 or directly to the ejector shaft215, all in proper cycling and timing with the other aspects of thecutting 8 operation. The reverse or resettin of such displaced cable maythereupon be effected by a solenoid.

It is to be understood that the exemplary ejector mechanism hereindescribed and illustrated, and its associated features and componentsections may take various other forms and arrangements within thebroader spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. A machine of the character described for successively cutting a stackof sheets transversely comprising a work table having spaced bars withintermediate slots for supporting the stack, a reciprocable knifeassembly with a blade arranged transverse of said table for successivelycutting forward portions of the stack when projected into the knifeassembly, and ejector means arranged adjacent said knife assembly forabutting the last-cut portion of the stack and moving it past the knifeassembly, said ejector means including a plurality of finger-likeelements movable through said spaced slots in the work table to effectejection of the last-cut portion, and said elements being normallydisposed on one side of said table so as not to interfere with movementof said stack during said successive cutting.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, further including a transversemember rotatably carrying said elements, a spring normally biasing saidmember to maintain said elements on said one side of the work table, andmeans for rotating said member against the spring bias to motivate saidelements against the last-out stack portion and remove it from the knifeassembly area after the cutting cycle.

3. A machine of the character described for cutting a stack of sheetscomprising a work table for supporting the stack, a back gauge movablein controllable stages along said table having a face cooperable withthe sheets, a knife assembly for successively cutting portions of thestack a clamp mounted with said back gauge for gripping the back portionof the stack of sheets, continuously in its motivations, said Work tablebeing composed of a plurality of spaced longitudinal bars, and ejectormeans arranged adjacent the feed-out end of the work table for abuttingthe last-cut portion of the stack and moving it off the work table, saidmeans including a plurality of finger-like elements in an array movablebetween said spaced bars to effect the stack portion ejection and beingnormally disposed below said work table so as not to interfere with saidstack in the course of successive cutting.

4. A machine of the character described for successively cutting a stackof sheets transversely comprising a work table for supporting the stack,said work table embodying a plurality of spaced longitudinal bars, aback gauge mounted transverse of and movable along said table with aface cooperable with the rear end of the stack of sheets, a reciprocableknife assembly with a blade arranged transverse of said table forsuccessively cutting forward portions of the stack when projected intothe knife assembly by said back gauge, and ejector means arrangedadjacent the feed-out end of the work table for abutting the last-cutportion of the stack and moving it past the knife assembly and off theWork table including alplurality of finger-like elements rotative as anarray between said spaced bars to effect the stack portion ejection; arotative means carried by said machine, said elements being carried bysaid means, and an actuator device for said rotative means whereby uponactuation thereof said elements effect rotation into abutment with saidlast-cut portion of the stack.

5. In a cutting machine having a knife assembly arranged over a worktable, said work table being provided with a series of slots extendingbelow said knife assembly, an ejector mechanism disposed below said worktable and comprising ejector means, actuating means for said ejectormeans operative to move said ejector means through said slots and abovesaid work table wherein said ejector means is normally disposedtherebelow, and

9 11a wherein said ejector means is disposed to abut the rear ReferencesCiied in the file of this patent surface of cut stock and to move saidstock from below UNITED STATES PATENTS said knife assembly, upon beingactuated. 1,678,156 Malroney July 24, 1928 6. In a device as set forthin claim 5, said ejector means 2,947,428 Curt nius Aug. 2, 1960comprising a rotative shaft and a plurality of spaced 5 FOREIGN PATENTSfingers camed thereon 838,740 Germany May 12, 1952

1. A MACHINE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED FOR SUCCESSIVELY CUTTING A STACKOF SHEETS TRANSVERSELY COMPRISING A WORK TABLE HAVING SPACED BARS WITHINTERMEDIATE SLOTS FOR SUPPORTING THE STACK, A RECIPROCABLE KNIFEASSEMBLY WITH A BLADE ARRANGED TRANSVERSE OF SAID TABLE FOR SUCCESSIVELYCUTTING FORWARD PORTIONS OF THE STACK WHEN PROJECTED INTO THE KNIFEASSEMBLY, AND EJECTOR MEANS ARRANGED ADJACENT SAID KNIFE ASSEMBLY FORABUTTING THE LAST-CUT PORTION OF THE STACK AND MOVING IT PAST THE KNIFEASSEMBLY, SAID EJECTOR MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF FINGER-LIKEELEMENTS MOVABLE THROUGH SAID SPACED SLOTS IN THE WORK TABLE TO EFFECTEJECTION OF THE LAST-CUT PORTION, AND SAID ELEMENTS BEING NORMALLYDISPOSED ON ONE SIDE OF SAID TABLE SO AS NOT TO INTERFERE WITH MOVEMENTOF SAID STACK DURING SAID SUCCESSIVE CUTTING.